The Most Delicious Wine Bars in Oakland

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (460) • $$

"We came in two days in a row to do wine tastings and purchases. This wine bar is one of the shops that closes a bit late than other shops at ferry building market place. So if you want to hang out longer this is the place to be. We had wine tastings on both days, hubby also bought some reserved wines to take to dinners. The selections were great and prices were reasonable. They serve caviar and other finger foods, the Mediterranean mezze was tasty with our wines. Service was very friendly and attentive. I really liked the relaxing vibes. If you are a wine lover you should definitely come in to try some wines and hang out for an hour or two!"

Chez Mansour Restaurant-Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (172) • $$

"What a bizarre place.Let's get the simple stuff out of the way. The wine list at this "wine bar" is terrible. Mid-shelf Safeway, Joel Gott-level. Nothing remotely interesting. The waitress helpfully told us that women like Sauvignon Blanc.The food is mediocre. Kebabs small and overcooked, shwarma flavorless. Pita bread from the store (and tonight, stale). Ditto the pita chips. All the salads, falafel, hummus -- plain, unremarkable, nothing to suggest they're actually made in-house. The "large" kebab portions are around $25 for a single skewer of small pieces, a scoop of rice, and an unremarkable green cafeteria salad.BUT THERE WAS DANCING! It's like visiting a Twilight Zone episode. Picture interior decor of mid-80s fern bar meets Antiques Roadshow saloon. Add a woman wearing a forced smile while performing 30 minutes of sort-of-belly-dancing to recorded music, while patrons tucked dollar bills in her skirt. Hands down, one of the strangest dinners I've had."

Gochi - Mountain View

★★★★☆ 4.1 (623) • $$$

"Food (4/5)Food was delicious! I would have liked a little more seasoning for my claypot rice however. It was a nice, comforting hearty meal. I've been here before and enjoyed the hamachi carpaccio too :)Price (4/5)On the pricier side. My gindara meshi/black cod small claypot rice was $37, my friend's tori soboro meshi/braised ground chicken small claypot rice was $26, and my other friend's tempura udon was $16 (this was the most fairly priced). Keep in mind that the dashi soup is an additional $2.5. We also ordered curry korokke ($10.5), which my friends enjoyed.Wait Time (4/5)Made a reservation several days in advance via Yelp for our party of three which was easy. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. We were told on arrival that our reservation was limited to 1.5hrs.One of my friends did have to wait a while for her udon while my and my other friend's meals were already arrived, so that was odd (I assume udon is usually quicker, but she did order the tempura udon?).Ambiance (5/5)Cozy interior, about 10+ tables for parties of 2-4, and three larger tables for parties of 4+ with tatami seating. It was pretty warm inside.Service (4/5)Everyone was pleasant and nice but it did take us a while to flag someone down when we were trying to ask about my friend's late dish. It also did take a while for us to get the check. No other concerns.Parking/Access (5/5)Located in a strip mall, there's plenty of parking available with no time limits. Most of the other businesses are closed for dinner time at least (the pool shop, key shop, FedEx). Probably wouldn't come back again since this was my second visit and there are other more affordable restaurants in the area with more exciting choices in my opinion. But definitely worth a try!"

The Study

★★★★★ 4.6 (17) • $$

"What a great find! We were randomly driving around and found this place. For now seating is outside and soon indoors will be available. The wines are organic and are from around the world. The wines here are like no other. Tyler was fantastic and introduced us to a number of unique wines.A great experience and we'll be returning soon!"

Primavera Ristorante

★★★★☆ 3.8 (663) • $$

"Great food, atmosphere and service. Great place to come get a bite and walk the beautiful neighborhood."

Small Change Oyster Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (50)

"Great new shop in Temescal that is serving up some tasty plates! I stopped by at the opening hours and the crowd was already gathering. There's seating inside that is bar style and a large outdoor patio in the back (highly recommend this seating). It's nestled away from the busy street traffic and feels really intimate in a busy side of town. The staff were really polite, informative and kept our dishes coming out in a timely manner. I have only ever tried local oysters so our waitress did a great job answering our questions all throughout our service. We ordered:- Ceviche- 4/5. I really liked the freshness of the seafood in this. I would've enjoyed more acidity and heat from the jalapeños on this just that is just a personal preference. - Rockefeller Broiled Oysters- 5/5. I really enjoyed this as a single bite. I've never had an oyster served broiled style so this was an absolute treat. It's creamy, it pairs well with the breadcrumbs topping. I'd order these again.Full Dozen Day's Selection- 4/5. We ordered six New Brunswick and six Tómales Bay sourced oysters. I was most impressed with the New Brunswick (Canadian) oysters. Some of the most creamy oysters I've had. Paired with hot sauce and the mignonette, it was the perfect bite. In general, I was expecting larger oysters for the raw servings but this might be influenced by timing of season, etc I would recommend ending with the New Brunswick oysters! Perfect final bites to end a trip to Small Change. Location/Ambiance- 5/5Staff/Service/ 5/5Food- 4/5"

Rutherford Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$

"We have driven passed Rutherford Grill numerous times and decided to make the stop for dinner! Reservations made online were efficient and availability was pretty open, even for a last minute plan on Valentine's Day.We arrived for our reservation and had a few minute wait for the table; however, it was reasonable. We were seated in a great booth and the service was incredible! Ali, our server, was probably the best server we have ever had. She was friendly, prompt in taking our order, timed our food well, and routinely changed my martini glass for a cold one (woo hoo!).We had a delicious main course and drinks. The wedge salad was a little odd with a thousand island style dressing and carrots (wouldn't eat this again).The ambiance was warm, California-style dining that made you want to sit and talk. I loved it and would go back again and again! You won't go wrong choosing Rutherford Grill for dinner."

Oakland Draft House

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (60)

"Great fast service from Jabari. He made us feel very welcome when we got here. This restaurant was convenient at the end of the concourse and this was our choice after viewing three or four other menus along the concourse here. This menu spoke to us. Our food came. It was hot delicious I love the garlic fries and the deep fried breaded chicken strips. it was fresh and delicious and the price was reasonable considering airport."

Cadet Wine & Beer Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (155) • $$

"Came here with some friends on a Monday night and had an absolute blast! The ambience, the service, the food and drinks...100/10! Our group had the best time here. Our server Jose was so sweet (despite us being loud lol) and got us our food and drinks out in no time. I love the mood lighting here; it really adds a winding-down, relaxing vibe to the place. We ordered this chocolate panini with marshmallow whip, which was so freaking good! Overall, I very much enjoyed spending time with my friends here and would recommend this place!"

Verve Wine

★★★★☆ 4 (39)

"This is the same Verve, as the one from NYC's Tribeca neighborhood. It's one of the new places now amongst other nice shops along Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights. Inside this beautiful new space, you'll find wines from all over the world at varying price points. I saw many in the $20 to $50 price range. Unfortunately, I arrived when they were just about closing, so I didn't get a chance to chat with them extensively, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's worth a peek inside. The huge marble table in the center is a wow-piece! I wish I had a kitchen that would accommodate a huge center table like that.If you want to rose all day this summer, they have a huge offering of rose wines out in front. I love a glass of rose in the warm weather, but I think it's really because I like the attractiveness of the pink blush hue in a wine glass. Their focus is on wines from smaller producers, which make your wine buying excursion ever more interesting. They also pride themselves on service and provide sommelier consults for you on wine selection and wine pairing. You can also book tastings and seminars with their sommeliers."

The Cook and Her Farmer

★★★★☆ 3.9 (449) • $$

"They're normally closed on Sundays, but we visited this past weekend for the Summer Jazz Brunch Series featuring Jazz Mafia musicians and a menu of delectable bites including shrimp and grits, grilled oysters, and buckwheat waffles. We had the big sur melt, raw oysters, and the daily sandwich special, as well as a delightful watermelon margarita and a michelada. Everything was tasty. I especially enjoyed the savory, crisp grilled cheese filled with yummy shrimp and melty cheese. It was quite a lovely setting. The outdoor seating near the live music was taken/reserved but the indoor seating had an open air feel, all of the tables available since the other businesses at Swan's Market are closed on Sundays. We waited about 45 minutes in line to order and 20 minutes for our order to be ready, but the farmer gave out some wine to waiting customers. And we got to listen to the awesome sounds of jazz musicians performing for guests, showcasing plenty of talent on that patio stage.  Besides the long wait time in the early afternoon, service was great, workers cleaning up the tables and keeping the place beautiful, and the staff was friendly and helpful, making everyone feel welcome. We had a pleasant time."

La Strada

★★★★☆ 4 (543) • $$

"I can't say anything bad about La Strada. Olivia, Carlos, the entire staff are amazing. The location is always super clean, no dust, organized, clean. It's a been a go to spot for my team for the past 18 months. Way too good to be overlooked."

Cafe Meuse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (272) • $$

"Great wine and servers. We had a fabulous time here. Highly recommend if you are in the area!"

Mile Limit

★★★★★ 4.9 (8)

"A great addition to the Berkeley scene. A whole wall is devoted to the wine display organized by country which makes for a very interesting browsing experience. They even have a selection from Lebanon. We went for the taco pop-up night and enjoyed it immensely. Food was delicious service friendly everything was great"

Cafenated Coffee Company

★★★★☆ 3.8 (364) • $$

"The place is beautiful and spacious! We wanted the outside seating but it was filled. The outside seating is full of greenery and has a lot of seats (but this place is too popular to find one lol). The indoor seating is spacious and the tables are spacious enough for studying for multiple people.The Vietnamese coffee tasted great. It was good and the presentation was cool with the coffee being in a beaker like cup. It was a bit different from a traditional Vietnamese coffee, but still good. The white mocha was great as well!The bagel was great too! Highly recommend.The bags"

EBGB: The Underground Wine Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (15) • $$$

"This is an unusual little wine tasting bar set inside the beautiful loft home of the owner and winemaker, Monty P. The two story space is in the artist housing colony out by the I-880 bypass in west Oakland, at the foot of Pine Street, called Pacific Cannery Lofts. The beautiful modern unit had been cleared for a special event, an intimate wine drinking party of about 2 -3 dozen people, starting with an intro art class upstairs led by Art a la Cart. http://www.yelp.com/biz/art-a-la-cart-oaklandEarly attendees (about a dozen) didn't do paint by the numbers, but a steep above that, learning to draw a scene, mix basic paints, and finish a small 8 x 11 canvas. Later everyone came downstairs to enjoy the delicious nibbles provided by the middle eastern caterer Faz. They were great, with hummus, olives, chicken satay skewers, and other delights.http://www.yelp.com/biz/faz-restaurant-and-bar-oakland The variety of wines were very good, both white and red from Paulson wineries, and the hosts were very engaging and seasoned entertainers. There was a live acoustic band trio called Melodious Monk ( I get confusedly the actual name because I think of the Jazz pioneer pianist, Thelonius Monk, which their name is a play off of).Good times had by all at this nice special wine tasting get together, an intimate event where art, conversation and wine were shared. The event was organized by the beautiful and effervescent event coordinator, Dominique."

Eco Terreno Tasting Room

★★★★★ 4.8 (17)

"Amazing place and people, wine was very tasty and the decorations are beautiful and stylish"

Macy's Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (11) • $$

"Wonderful place to catch your breath from the shopping madness. My brother and I planted ourselves at a window table while the women folks shopped. It was during the holidays and Union Square was lit up with Christmas lights and bustling with activities. We watched people go round and round in the ice skating rink as though it were a giant music box. We ordered a meat and cheese board along with a couple glasses of Chardonnay. No sooner did the food arrive did the women folks dropped in to say hi. Itwas like they had a six sense when it came to food. The bar itself was clean, bright and comfortable. They have about 6-7 tables. You order and pay at the counter then they bring the food to your table. We were completely happy with our meat and cheese board. The staff was friendly and the service good. We'll definitely be back. Happy Eating!!"

Isola Osteria

★★★★☆ 3.8 (191)

"No need to gate keep on this one! Isola Osteria is already the hot new Sicilian / Italian restaurant in the Tri-Valley. Located in Downtown Danville railroad Ave. Isola has already expanded its hours to accommodate its popularity. Now open for lunch / dinner and happy hour on Tuesday thru Friday. We grabbed a sit outside on the patio a jazz guitarist plays in Friday and Saturdays. My daughter and I got a couple of cocktails and the following appetizers. Arancini Rice ballsBeef carpaccio Grilled VeggiesAhi tunaMusselsAll were excellent but the mussels really stood out. They were large plump and in a saffron sauce. Plenty of parking in the large public lot. Look for the Vespa and the Fiat in the front. Pro Tip go early on a nice day order up a some drinks and appetizers enjoy the music then at 5 pm the dinner menu is available."

Gratta Wines

★★★★★ 4.9 (44) • $$

"If I was hesitant to Yelp an off-the-beaten path gem, then shame on me.Why? I kind of want this place all to myself.Gratta Wines has become my go-to for wine, bites, and just good-ass service. Super neighborhood quaint, no frills, no fuss. Just walk up, order, and have a seat. As of now, we always get a seat :). It's just a lovely neighborhood spot, and in these uncertain times, we need to support our community! Not to mention, Gratta is women owned and operated. Show up once, they'll remember you and they treat you like family.In terms of wine, go for the Garage Blend! They actually make it in their garage!! I've had the Sangria too, and that's worth a go especially on a warm day. And when it comes to food, everything is AMAZING! Cheese plate, Olives with bread, Spinach Ravioli, Eggplant (when they have it), and PUHLEEZE get that pudding for dessert if you can. It has been sold out the past couple of times, so if go and they have it, would you call me? LOL.Local love to Gratta."

Nilo Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (92)

"Only for entering. Looks not equipped for a busy afternoon. Probably about 6 parties seated. Came in, with eye contact and no greeting. Waited a few minutes and left. Seemed like only one person working the floor."

Snail Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (143)

"Love how they change their menu up. Keeps it exciting. Small and intimate space but love the vibe. Great service and good food. Its a gem"

Neumanali

★★★★☆ 4 (415) • $$$

"We went to neumanali for an engagement/ birthday celebration. The ambiance is very nice, cozy and homey. The service was amazing! Constantly checking in to ensure we had everything we needed and everyone was very pleasant. Food was amazing especially the scallop and rack of lamb. So much flavor and seasoned perfectly!Thank you neumanali for the amazing food & service!"

Napoli Pizzeria Vacaville

★★★★☆ 4 (636) • $$

"Extremely nice staff. Pizza was cooked perfectly and ready when they said it would. I got a thin crust. Build your own pizza. Chicken, pineapple, mushroom, red sauce, barbecue drizzle. The most amazing pizza I've ever had."

Bacchus & Venus

★★★★☆ 3.8 (141) • $$

"Amazing spot for great California wine. They have superb boutique wine from medium to small producers. Great spot.they have a secret menu, ask for empanadas (not listed)"

Bar49

★★★★☆ 3.9 (37)

"This place is amazing. Great service, attentive staff, good drinks, good atmosphere. Finally something in this space, which has been doomed before with bad restaurants, might stick around!"

Gather Wine Lounge

★★★★★ 5 (16)

"Great addition to the neighborhood! Relaxing atmosphere and it was easy to find a glass of wine to try as they have some great choice. Highly recommend. Perfect spot or a date night."

Heroic Italian

★★★★☆ 4.4 (138) • $$

"Very good food. Great location and outdoor seating. Also good service. Yes its not cheap but the food is quality and feels more authentic italian than most berkeley digs. Hope they continue to do a good business"

Roses On Adeline

★★★★★ 4.5 (63)

"I celebrated my birthday here on Saturday night and it was awesome. Could not want more from a local bar/restaurant.The place is well designed with that hip mid-century modern vibe. Love.Weekends = live music. THey had these 2 old timey guys playing some old timey tunes, I drank, I ate, I made my husband twirl me. It was awesome. The cocktails are great. We tried every one and some better than others, but all really good and while strong, not lip puckering so. End that night with the brandy slushie, with poprocks and all.The food: it's a menu of small plates with a burger and a fried chicken sandwich. We also went down pretty much the whole menu. Everything was really good. So much thought, care and preparation went into it, and you can tell. The smash burger is fantastic, it could be one of the best in Berkeley (admittedly I don't order burgers often). It was like a bougie Big Mac and I mean that in the best sense. The mushrooms and summer squash, equally as good. So fresh. The ceviche was delightful. That chocolate budino for dessert was rich and decadent. And they have pavlova! Who has pavlova? They do. Not my favorite, as I'm team chocolate, but the table enjoyed it. Of all the dishes, I'd probably not order the meatballs again, as they were pricey and not necessarily the star of the menu. Regardless, I gush. I also got the sweetest card from the team for celebrating my bday. They do have happy hour. And again, live music every weekend with seemingly a DJ on Fridays and live music on Sat.I'm a huge fan. One of the best dining experiences I've had in the Bay in a minute. Welcome to the 'hood Rose and team! We can't wait to return.*If you don't live nearby, there is parking, but a heads up the neighborhood can come off a bit grisly. ** They inherited a liquor licence from the dive bar before them, which doesn't allow children. Womp womp. Get a babysitter!"

Passione Emporio

★★★★☆ 4.3 (191) • $$

"This place is underappreciated and pretty much hidden gem! Everything I had here was delicious!Dish are organic, most if not all. Parking can be tough in a busy time, but when I have went it didn't take too long.Owner is very nice with a great interior. Restrooms shared with the coffee place next door. I've had the lasagna, Margherita pizza and some others, the fries, the affogato. All so good. Would definitely recommend. So worth."

Bentley's Cocktail Bar & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (16)

"Love this place / spot . This is a VIBEb!! Great place to hang out in the morning with family and friends having brunch from the vendors down stairs while listening to the old school R&B music we grew up on . Dancing / partying encouraged as people hit the floor. Place is small and quaint but gets the job done . You can order food from the lounge area but you get it much faster by going down to the place and ordering it yourself . We had a party of 20 and was well taken care of . Will be returning on a Sunday to hang out !!"

District - Oakland

★★★★☆ 3.8 (913) • $$

"We were extremely disappointed this time around.. we came for happy hour, who isn't a sucker for happy hour right? We started off with 1/2 dozen oysters at $1.5/each, it was good so we ordered another 1/2 dozen. The fact that they had just opened, and they ran out, tells me they don't order on a daily basis.. they did offer to give us an appetizer on the house. The options were limited so we opted for another Brussel sprouts. The Brussels weren't bad but it was just a tad too sweet. Very little bacon, but i guess good enough to order again? We had already ordered a basket of fries and that was mid. It was stale, not hot out the fryer. Wasn't a fan. We also ordered the beef sliders, and immediately when it got to the table, it smelled fishy. And it hit me, it smelled like raw beef that had been sitting for a few days in its own blood for 3-4 days, and once it hits hot oil in a pan, that burnt beef edges immediately start to smell salty/fishy. I went home and it just didn't sit well with me so i did a quick google search and i was right.. it's disappointing overall at this point.. drinks: i ordered an espresso martini, and that signature look of the foam on top with the espresso beans and taste of fresh espresso? None of that. I ordered another drink after but.. that never came.. these were all items we got from the happy hour, bc that's the whole point of a happy hour our bill came, and to our surprise... my drink i never got was on there.. and the white wine my friend ordered from the happy hour... was actually not from the happy hour.. he didn't mention that, we went from a wine that's maybe $7 to paying $18 for a glass.. needless to say... it was not a happy hour lol it's disappointing because we have come here before several times and it's hard to find a place with happy hour on a Monday.. it just wasn't satisfying for what we paid."

Tala Wine

★★★★★ 5 (26)

"Very cute and quaint wine bar in the Outer Mission. They offer wine flights so you can taste a little bit of everything. The owners are super nice and are very enthusiastic about wines and love sharing information about where the wine is grown and what makes the wine you're tasting especially good. Great place to meet with friends! They offer a bunch of board and card games."

Brix & Craft

★★★★★ 4.6 (254) • $$

"This establishment from food, to craft cocktails, to service, music selection & ambiance has been nothing but outstanding! The selection of food & craft cocktails is amazing. The drink I got is Luna Amore & it literally stole my heart. You can tell the mixologists really have perfected the taste of every drink.Now the service, also very exceptional! Brayden is who took care of us, & he was so attentive & answered all of our questions. (Good service isn't easy to come by these days so HUGE kudos to him.) Will definitely be coming back for the service & drinks."

DECANT SF Bottle Shop & Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (39) • $$

"The wine was delicious, did the sommelier flight where they chose the wines and it was fun + the wines were all delicious. The service was great as well!"